It's self-driving or bust for Uber CEO, the IPO can wait

Travis Kalanick, CEO of Uber, recently spoke to USA TODAY about the company's new efforts to develop a self-driving ride-sharing vehicle with the help of Swedish automaker Volvo. "If we don't get the (autonomous car) software thing nailed, we're not going to be around much longer," the captain of the ride-hailing juggernaut told USA TODAY on Thursday. In his mind, self-driving cars are a societal inevitability that will reduce deaths, traffic and pollution. "Will it all take time and storytelling (to reassure consumers)? "But that's where it ultimately ends up." Kalanick, 40, spoke at Uber's sprawling headquarters here just hours after the company, privately valued at 66 billion, announced two major strategic moves aimed at better positioning itself for an autonomous vehicle future. Uber is rolling out the first of 100 Volvo SUVs equipped with self-driving features in Pittsburgh later this month, part of a 300-million partnership. Volvo has targeted 2021 for a self-driving car. And Uber is buying Otto, a 100-person startup focused on bringing autonomous features to tractor trailers. Kalanick insisted that neither deals -- nor Uber's recent sale of its UberChina operations to rival Didi Chuxing --were designed to make the company more attractive to investors for a possible initial public offering. "My statements on this have been well documented, but you gotta ask, I get it," said Kalanick in his characteristically direct style that blends pauses with declarative statements. "If there was a way to get mass liquidity without going public, (which is) that bureaucracy piece, then I'm super excited about that.